How to prune wild grapes

Pruning time of wild grape

Wild grapes can be pruned all year round. The best time to prune is from October when they enter dormancy to early April of the following year before the onset of sap flow. Early March is the best time. Timely pruning can ensure a reasonable distribution of branches within the crown, prevent the fruiting part from moving outward, and improve the yield and quality of wild grapes.

How to prune wild grapes

1. Winter pruning

In order for wild grapes to survive the winter better, a major pruning should be carried out in winter to cut off about 2/3 of the branches and vines on the grape plants. Pruning should start from the base, and the mother branches that are healthy and free of diseases and insect pests should not be cut off to avoid affecting the growth in the next year.

2. Top pinching

If wild grapes grow vigorously and the apical dominance is too concentrated, they need to be topped off, mainly by shortening the branches that grow too high, retaining a branch length of about 20 to 40 centimeters. This will ensure that the overall nutrients of the grapes are evenly distributed.

3. Thin out the buds

In early spring, wild grapes need to be thinned out and their new shoots should be removed after they grow 1 to 2 cm. Only the strong new shoots should be retained. Seven days after the bud removal, the shoots with about 4 to 5 leaves should be thinned out.

4. Inflorescence pruning

If the inflorescences of wild grapes are too dense, it will cause poor growth, so excessive inflorescences should be pruned. Remove excess inflorescences 15 days before flowering, and keep strong fruit branches with 1 to 2 inflorescences. This will allow the wild grapes to bloom and bear fruit better.